Mary (James) Krenn

Mary (James) Krenn, 98, widow of Joseph R. Krenn, passed away Monday, January 12, 2026 in Alameda, CA. Born in New Britain, she lived here most of her life before moving to California in 2015 to be closer to her son, Christopher Krenn. The youngest of six, Mary had a happy childhood. She graduated from New Britain High School in 1944 and was the first in her immediate family to go to college. In 1948, she received her B.S. Degree in Biology and Chemistry from St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford. Mary was a medical technologist at New Britain General Hospital for 20 years, focusing on hematology and biochemistry. She was in charge of the laboratory for the last 15 years of her career, retiring in 1968. She married Joseph, a mechanical engineer at Fafnir Bearing Company, that same year. Mary was a charter member of St. Maurice Church in New Britain and volunteered in the blood program for the American Red Cross. She co-founded a youth soccer league in New Britain. Mary was an avid UConn Women’s Basketball fan, traveling to watch them play in the Final Four many times. She considered herself a “geriatric jock” in tennis, golf, and skiing. Mary traveled to all seven continents; highlights included skiing in Austria for three months, climbing the pyramids in Egypt, and posing with a whale bone in Antarctica. Mary taught her family to value education, hard work, thrift, and exploring the world. Remembered as a “good, loyal friend,” Mary maintained strong friendships throughout her life, many lasting decades. She liked to laugh, enjoyed good food, and told it like it was. Her loved ones remember her as witty, generous, and outgoing. Besides her son Christopher Krenn and his wife Lilly Krenn of Oakland, CA, she leaves two grandchildren, Hannah and Joe Krenn, as well as many nieces and nephews. Mary was predeceased by her five siblings, Clayton James Jr., who was killed in action in WWII, Richard H. James, Verna James, Alice Hurlburt and Carolyn Stewart-Elliot. Her family is deeply grateful to all who helped to care for her in her final years, especially Sabina Sunuwar. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, January 22nd at 10:30 AM at St. Maurice Church, 100 Wightman Road, New Britain. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, New Britain. Calling hours are 5-7 PM on Wednesday, January 21st and 9-10 AM on Thursday, January 22nd at Carlson Funeral Home, 45 Franklin Square, New Britain. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of St. Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117 or the New Britain Museum of American Art (NBMAA), 56 Lexington St., New Britain, CT 06052. Please share a memory or note of sympathy at www.carlsonfuneralhome.com.

Mary (James) Krenn

October 9, 1927 - January 12, 2026

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Mary (James) Krenn

October 9, 1927 - January 12, 2026

365 Days of Grief Support

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